Age of Empires is a series of real-time strategy video games developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Age of Empires, the first title of the series was released in 1997. Since then, seven titles and three spin-offs have been released. The titles are all historical-based games.

The scope of Microsoft's Age of Empires runs the gamut from meager tribes to control of vast empires by beginning in the Stone Age, when mankind takes its first steps toward becoming the dominant species on the face of the Earth, until global warming ends the Ice Age, and hunters and gatherers slowly give way to the beginnings of the great civilizations.

Age of Empires combines great graphics, real-time strategy and an intriguing plot (our own history!) to raise a phoenix from the ashes of wayside, ordinary strategy games. Some of the more memorable features that make this game truly enjoyable include hunting and foraging for food, building and upgrading armies, establishing and strengthening a society and, ultimately, fighting war. .

There are four major ways to achieve victory in the random map or deathmatch modes of Age of Empires, and all are contingent on being the first player in the game to reach specific milestones. Control of all artifacts or ruins for 2,000 years earns victory, as does building the first Wonder of the World to stand for 2,000 years. Another means to victory lies in conquest of the other players ; total destruction of enemy villagers, military units, war ships, and buildings. A final option allows for setting a time limit, with the team or player with the highest score at game's end declared the winner.